Barcelona will bet on Balde to cover the left back spot

Barcelona will bet on Balde to cover the left back spot

Balde
Balde / | sport

If Junior goes in Jan the club won't sign players and will promote the 17 year old

Ronald Koeman is helping Barcelona undergo generational change in the squad and more could be on the way. The club want to sell Junior Firpo in January and if they do, they won't sign a replacement. Instead, Alex Balde, the 17 year old Juvenil left back will be promoted directly to the first team squad. The club know he has a lot of potential and he is ready to fight for a place. A lot of big European sides are interested in him.

Balde has shown superiority on the left, where his excellent physicality and great technique have helped him shine. He did pre-season with the B team despite being of Juvenil age. He replaced Akieme, who went to Almerica, and did so with great efficiency until he got injured on October 14 against Nastic. An ankle problem that has left him out for over a month, but he's recovering well. Barcelona expect him to return with the B team and then join the first team squad for training. And if Firpo goes, he'll be even more useful.

Alejandro Balde, durante un partido de las categorías inferiores del Barça | DAVID RAMÍREZ

Junior has not fitted well at Barca and the club will listen to offers, loan and transfer. He knows the situation and knows he has no chance of making it at Camp Nou. Koeman has preferred to use Sergino Dest at left back ahead of him. Inter Milan are the side closest to signing him, but Atalanta are interested too. 

Balde could become the next Ansu Fati in a way, jumping up from La Masia to the first team in a moment. Chelsea and Liverpool in the Premier League have tried to lure him, but Balde is comfortable at Barcelona and knows the club believe in him. They will look to tie him down soon...

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